Sewing Tips

Know your equipment

The number 1 tip for sewing is knowing your machine.  How it works, and the feel of the machine.  This way you know how hard to push on the pedal, or know when to lift off the pedal to put in reverse, what size needles your machine works with based on the fabrics weight being sewn, etc.  Once you know your machine, then you can accomplish any project.  Each machine comes with a manual that gives great tips on how to work your machine.

Preparing to start your project

• Review pattern details on the back of the pattern before purchase of any fabrics or notions.

• Understand what the notions are utilized for so the appropriate sizes and colors are purchased to match the material purchased.

• Read the pattern steps prior to starting your project to gain whole project understanding

• Know what the lines on the pattern represent as all lines are significant information.  When there are marks outside of the lines, these can be markers for lining up the other fabric piece.

• When purchasing fabric, make sure it is the fabric suggested or similar weight, weave, or knit

• When purchasing fabric, allow extra fabric for diagonal prints to match lines at seams

• When purchasing thread, if the color is not exact, choose the closest that is darker rather than lighter so thread is not visible

• Before cutting any fabric, lay your pattern out on the fabric and pin.  Look at areas like how the print will look on the piece cut.  If diagonal, match seam lines to lines on the fabric so the seam is not showing when sewn.  Once this is layed out,  make sure you are allowing the required seam allowance evenly around each piece as it is cut out.  Please be aware that a direction arrow is on the pattern, this is to make sure the direction is placed on the fabric correctly.  The arrow goes with the grain of the fabric.

• A good pair of sharp sissors are required to cut fabric and threads crisply.

• Make sure you have a good amount of straight pins to make sure your fabric seams are lined up prior to sewing.  This will avoid the ripping out of seams.  Also, the pins are a good marker to use on the fabric.

• A good seam ripper is always a good tool to have for those moments of mistakes.  Everyone experiences these moments.

• Needle threaders are also handy tools to have right next to the sewing machine.  When you run out of thread or the thread breaks, it is easier to rethread the needle with this little tool.

Sewing and Completing your project

• Sew the seam allowance indicated on the pattern evenly throughout the seams of the project. Utilizing the lines on your sewing machine can be useful for even sewing.
• Follow the step by step instructions that are identified on the pattern sheet.
• Press every seam for a finished seam look right after the seam is sewn.  This helps in combining other seams and prevents puckering at the crossing of seams.
• Gathering of fabric is best completed by running two gathering stitch lines (one on the inside and one on the outside of the seam allowance).  When gathering these two stitches evenly over the length sewn, it is easier to prevent puckering in the seam with the gathered fabric.
• Clip the raw edges on all curved seams to allow for the fabric not to pull from other areas to prevent the curve to be smooth
• Clip the raw corners to the seam so when the project is pulled inside out, there will be crisp corners.
• Sew the raw edges to eliminate any unraveling of fabric (typically a zigzag stitch along the edge will stop the unraveling).
• If getting used to your sewing machine, put the sewing speed on slow until the handling of the fabric thru the machine is manageable.
• When pulling strips of fabric inside out or pulling elastic thru a sewn area, utilize a large safety pin to pull the fabric, cording or elastic thru easier